Objective: To analyze whether the size of SN+ is differentially affected depending on disease duration. Secondly to analyze the interaction between a range of clinical parameters and SN+ with a focus on the asymmetry of the disease.

Background: Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity (SN+) is used to support the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease (PD). Although there is considerable variation in the extent of substantia nigra (SN) echogenic signals among patients, previous work suggests that SN+ is a stable marker throughout the course of the disease. In this study, we found that SN+ may change

Method: This prospective longitudinal study included 166 PD patients. Follow up period was 7 years. SN+ was measured planimetrically by transcranial sonography. Echogenicity was analyzed separately for onset, non-onset and sum of both sides. Onset side was defined as the SN that is contralateral to the side of the body that first manifested PD related motor impairment.

Results: We found that the best indicators for the SN+ changing in long -term follow up period were disease duration, MDS-UPDRS III, HYS and LED at second examination. The main TCS findings of the present study was that we did not see good correlation between SN+ mean at second examination and age at second examination.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that SN+ is a dynamic marker. The longer the disease lasts, the lower the SN + value.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/longitudinal-change-of-substantia-nigra-hyperechogenicity-in-parkinsons-disease-cohort/